Flanders aims to halve road fatalities by 2030

The Flemish government has prepared a new road safety plan for the period up to 2030. By that year, the number of road fatalities and injuries should be halved compared to 2019. Flanders aims, among other things, to reform the training program for supervisors and to ensure ‘fair’ speed enforcement.

‘Road safety demands more than good intentions. It demands choices that work: clear rules, fair enforcement, and measures that truly change behaviour, in addition to targeted and sustained investments to make our infrastructure safer,’ says competent minister Annick De Ridder. ‘Our ambition is to halve the number of road deaths and serious injuries by 2030 compared to 2019. We also continue to strive for Vision Zero by 2050: zero road casualties on our roads.’

Through a series of measures, Flanders aims to ensure that speed enforcement feels fair again. Recently, there has been considerable criticism of unfair average speed checks. Therefore, the government decided to reinstate the warning signs for average speed checks, which were removed in the previous legislature.

The new plan also includes changes to regulations to eliminate the profit model of private parties in average speed checks. Today, many controls are carried out by private companies, which receive a share of the fines. ​ ‘Speed enforcement will be rationalized,’ the government promises, ‘so that road users feel they are being treated fairly.’

Driver training is also changing. The mandatory training session for supervisors, introduced in 2024, is also being revised. Since then, they have been required to complete a three-hour training course.

Regarding cycle paths, the investment rate remains at 300 million euros per year. The budget to support local authorities will be increased from 15 million to 25 million euros starting this year.

To improve the safety of e-scooters, Flanders will urge Europe to implement cross-border recognition of model approvals so that the speed-measuring devices can be purchased and deployed quickly.

_{#FlandersNewsService | Annick De Ridder © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}